title: Effect of Gm allotypes on IgG2 antibody responses and IgG2 concentrations in children and adults.
abstract: Earlier studies have suggested that in adults the n-positive allele of the human IgG2 gene is more productive than the n-negative allele. This superiority was seen to be manifested in IgG2 antibody responses to polysaccharides, in the higher serum concentration of total IgG2 in the n/n than in -/- individuals, and in the higher concentration of n-positive than n-negative IgG2 in heterozygotes. The present study shows that in 1- or 2-year-old children, the concentration of IgG2 was independent of allotype G2m(n), and both alleles of a heterozygote contributed an average of one-half of the total IgG2. On the other hand, the superiority of the n-positive allele was also seen in young children in IgG2 antibody responses induced by the Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide (Hib). The effect of allotype n on antibody responses was evident only when the immunogen was the Hib polysaccharide. When the immunogen was a conjugate of Hib and diphtheria toxoid, the IgG2 antibody responses of n-positive and n-negative vaccinated individuals were almost equal, both in adults and in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarvas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rautonen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Käyhty
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kallio
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mäkelä
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000483:Alleles; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid / Q000276:immunology; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D004168:Diphtheria Toxoid; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007129:Immunoglobulin Gm Allotypes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial